PMMA–Y2O3 (Eu3+) nanocomposites: optical and mechanical properties

Abstract

The results of a study related to the processing and characterization of PMMA–Y2O3 (Eu3+) nanocomposites are presented herein. The nanocom­posite samples were prepared using a laboratory mixing molder with different contents of Eu-ion doped Y2O3 nanophosphor powder. The influence of par­ticle content on the optical and dynamic mechanical properties of the nanocom­posites was investigated. The intensity of the luminescence emission spectra in­creased as the nanophosphor content in the composite increased. The results of dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the storage modulus, loss modulus and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer composites increased with increasing content of the nanophosphor powder. The microhardness data also confirmed that the hardness number increased with nanoparticles concentration in the PMMA nanocomposites. The obtained results revealed a relatively linear relationship between Tg and the Vickers hardness.

Keywords

• nanocomposites
• luminescence
• mechanical properties
• dynamic mechanical analysis
• microhardness